LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME · 2020. 7. 3. · children’s camp in the village of Koltushi....
Transcript of LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME · 2020. 7. 3. · children’s camp in the village of Koltushi....
Prayer Requests
“but Jesus said, ‘Let
the little children come
to me and do not hinder
them, for to such
belongs the kingdom
of heaven.’”
Matthew 19:14 (ESV)
• That the seeds of faith planted in the kids’ hearts would grow and bear fruit
• That God would bless the English Bible Camps in Poland
• For safe travels for everyone involved in the English Bible Camps
• That God would prepare a team to come to Russia next summer
LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME
Camp
Лагерь
July 2019
Last week I had the pleasure of serving at a
children’s camp in the village of Koltushi.
Outside the metropolis of St. Petersburg,
this little village provides a welcome relief
from the hustle and bustle of the city. I not
only enjoyed the fresh air and nature, but
also with the sincere spiritual fellowship I
found among those gathered there.
These summer camps are the Russian
version of a Vacation Bible School. The
theme for the camp “Tales from the Sea of
Galilee” and we focused on the parables
that Jesus taught. I assisted with skits and
prayer times, led an English session and
was a general camp counselor. In our
English group, we played games and
practiced vocabulary, and also learned the
first two verses of “Seek Ye First” in English.
Our group performed the song for the rest of
the campers at the final closing ceremony,
in English and in Russian, and I was very
impressed at how quickly the kids picked up
the English words!
Some of the kids at this camp were from
Lutheran families, others had never been to
church before. Some knew all the answers
and others asked their own questions, such
as “what is a pastor?” Whoever they were
and whatever background they came from,
each of these precious kids heard about
Jesus. We read together God’s Word and
discussed God’s love. I pray that these
seeds of faith would find good soil, grow
and bear fruit in each of their lives.
Simple Faith
When we plan for these camps, we often
stress our role in speaking God’s Word to
the kids. We plan Bible lessons, try to think
of ways to retell Bible stories in ways that
will stick in the kids’ heads, and plan fun
activities that are centered about the theme
of the camp. Sometimes, though, it’s the
kids that serve and teach us.
One of the most touching moments of the
camp was one evening when we all
God’s Mission ...as told from the perspective of Alyssa Anders
gathered in the front of the
church for a short devotion and
time of prayer. The kids sat on
mattresses in front of the altar
and listened to a short devotion
before the leader opened the
prayer time. We’ve all have sat
through a prayer time like this,
and honestly I hate that
awkward silence while we wait
for someone to be brave
enough to pray out loud. Not so this
time. One after another, almost without
a pause in between, the kids offered up
their heartfelt prayers to their Savior.
They praised Him and gave thanks,
they prayed for us (the volunteers),
they presented their requests, and
without self-consciousness of hesitation
they offered up their simple prayers of
faith. They weren’t afraid that their
words weren’t good enough or fancy
enough or “religious” enough. They
just prayed. It wasn’t without reason
that Jesus said “Truly, I say to you,
unless you turn and become like
children, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)
Change of Plans
While we try to remember the simple
faith of a child when we pray, we
also have to keep in mind that
sometimes God answers our
prayers with a “no.” This year it did
not work out for us to travel to the
National Youth Gathering in
Minneapolis. The girls we were hoping to
take with us weren’t able to get visas in
time, even though they started the
application process well in advance. I
don’t know God’s greater plan in this, but I
trust that He has one. So instead of
traveling to Minnesota, I’ve been able to
focus more on the children’s camps and
also my own Russian studies.
Looking forward
Soon I’ll be heading to Poland to help
coordinate the English Bible Camps there.
I hope to have lots of stories and pictures
for my August newsletter!
Speaking of English Bible Camps, I
wanted to let all of you know about an
exciting opportunity to serve in Russia
next summer, leading an English Bible
Camp. We need to enlist a team soon so
that we can start the process for visas—a
process that is usually plagued with delays
and red tape. We’re looking for a team of
four to six people from the same
congregation (or at least a group of people
that already know each other). Other than
a willingness to serve and be flexible, you
don’t need any special skills—we’ll provide
the curriculum and translators. It will
definitely be a stretching experience and
accommodations will be rustic, but it’s also
sure to but an adventure that you’ll never
forget. If you feel God calling you to speak
God’s Word and love into the lives of kids
in Russia, or if you just want more
information, please contact me
([email protected]) or Erin Alter
If you receive this newsletter
through the mail, but
would prefer the email version, just
let me know!
Send me an email at
[email protected] and I’ll
gladly make the change.
Support
I’m now online! If you would like to support my work in Russia, visit:
www.lcms.org/anders
You can also send your gifts of love to our Friends at:
MISSION CENTRAL 40718 Highway E-16 Mapleton, IA 51034
Make checks payable to Mission Central
Write “Russia/Alyssa Anders” on the memo line
Scenes from the camp